Mid-America Christian University’s Evangels did everything they could to go back to Oklahoma City with a win Tuesday night.

Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Jared Williamson and Marshawn Arnold had something to say about that, however -- so did Will Paul and Charles Mells, as the four all scored in double figures.

ATU overcame a 10-point deficit in the first half, and the Wonder Boys outrebounded MACU 51-33 to go into the holiday break with a 78-73 nonconference win inside Tucker Coliseum.

“We knew coming in they were a good team,” Arkansas Tech head coach Doug Karleskint said after the game. “Every game they make tough shots, and they made some extremely tough ones in the first half. I was proud of the guys fighting back from that deficit in the first half.”

Willie Kirkland’s three-pointer gave the Wonder Boys (5-4) their first lead early. But the Evangels (4-5) answered and built a seven-point lead. Mid-America Christian’s Charlie Shorter netted six straight points to give the Evangels a comfortable cushion.

Josh Young’s jumper gave MACU its biggest lead of the first half, 20-10, at the 10:37 mark. That’s when Arkansas Tech started to climb back in the game.

Paul hit a three-pointer to make it 22-15, then his traditional three-point play made it 22-18. A basket by Kendall Pinkney of Dardanelle, a three-pointer by Williamson and a free throw from Bobby Hatchett pulled the Wonder Boys within 25-24.

A layup by Wells gave ATU a 26-25 lead with five minutes to go before the half. A pair of Kirkland free throws gave the Wonder Boys a four-point edge, until Shorter’s three-pointer gave the Evangels their 35-34 lead at the break.

Paul opened the second half by giving ATU the lead again. Kirkland hit a layup and ensuing free throw for a 39-38 lead. Arnold followed with a traditional three-point play of his own for a 42-38 margin.

Shorter nailed a three-pointer to pull Mid-America Christian within a point, but the Wonder Boys went on a 7-0 scoring run and took a 53-43 lead when Paul put back a missed shot with 12:10 showing. Williamson hit a three, while Arnold and Wells scored inside during the run.

Arnold’s slam dunk gave ATU a 63-55 margin with 7:45 to go, but Shorter later hit a layup to end a 6-0 run that pulled MACU within 63-61 with 6:30 to go.

Hatchett’s jumper gave the Wonder Boys a 69-65 lead with 3:40 remaining, but he missed a pair of crucial free throws with 1:40 left and ATU ahead 71-68.

After the Wonder Boys missed another scoring opportunity -- three inside shot attempts failed -- the Evangels got the rebound and scored after three attempts. Josh Smith’s putback went in to pull MACU within 71-70 with 46 seconds left.

But Williamson, the senior from Russellville, buried a three-pointer from the right side that gave Arkansas Tech a 74-70 lead with 28 seconds to go. Smith got another putback to go in to make it 74-72 with 15.4 seconds showing.

Paul hit a pair of free throws for a 76-72 lead with 14 seconds to go. Shorter, who led everybody with 29 points, hit a free throw for MACU’s final score with 4.6 ticks left. Pinkney’s free throws set the final score at 78-73.

“The play actually broke down after we called the time out,” Karleskint said, referring to Williamson’s three-pointer. “We didn’t execute it very well, but he [Williamson] did what a senior leader does.

“Marshawn was huge tonight, just because how hard he played. He was very coachable, and he was anywhere we needed him to be, whether on the baseline, in the paint or outside. Mells has been controlling the defensive paint for us very well. We’re a different team when he’s not out there.”

Williamson and Arnold each netted 16 to lead the Wonder Boys. Paul and Mells each scored 12. Mells added a game-high 14 rebounds and four blocks, while Paul pulled down 10 boards and added five assists. Williamson and Arnold had eight apiece.

“This year, I think it is a good time for a break,” Karleskint said. “I’m just glad we won our past three games and are going into the break above .500. We have some nagging injuries that need to heal. There are no classes for a couple of weeks, so we can focus on just basketball after the holidays.”

Arkansas Tech will resume Great American Conference play against Northwestern Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 3.